"Is this the Togepi Paradise?! But why is it..." May said, looking at the withered plants around her.
Max carefully touched a leaf next to him, and the leaf immediately turned to ash!
"It is said that the Togepi here grow by connecting with people's hearts. You all know the current situation in the Mirage Kingdom! Ah..." Sara said with a look of despair.
In the outside world, Hansen was overjoyed to see his obstacles disappear and immediately launched his coup d'état! At the same time, he became even more envious of Togepi's power, which could teleport so many people away in an instant.
On Ash's side, Togepi was very sad to see the desolate surroundings. It suddenly seemed to discover something and floated toward a hill.
"Ah! Togepi, wait!" Ash and the others quickly followed! When they arrived at their destination, everyone was shocked!
On a withered patch of grass, a group of Togepi lay on the ground, looking very weak. Misty's Togepi looked at its companions with concern!
"How could this happen?" (︶︿︶) Everyone looked at the weak Togepi and said sadly.
Misty said angrily, "It must be that guy named Hansen!"
Sara picked up a Togepi and nodded furiously. "Hansen's plotting has probably already affected this place, causing the Togepi to fall into despair!"
Just then, lightning flashed across the sky of the Togepi Paradise. Misty's usually gentle and optimistic Togepi suddenly looked furious and flew in one direction. Ash and the others quickly snapped out of it and followed.
Togepi soon stopped. In front of them stood a blue mirror-like surface, and on it were reflected the images of Hansen and the Team Rocket trio! They were continuously destroying the mirror in the outside world, which was causing the Togepi Paradise to be affected!
"Those terrible people! I knew they wouldn't give up!" Misty clenched her fists in anger.
"Togepi~" Togepi flew into the mirror and passed through. Ash quickly used his Aura and brought Brock and the others with him, teleporting to the outside world!
"We got out, meow!" "This place is really connected to somewhere else!" "The twerps got out too!"
Sara pointed at Hansen furiously. "Hansen! The guardian Pokémon Togepi would never want to see what you're doing!"
Hansen didn't waste any time and sent out Ninjask and Shedinja again!
"Go, Torchic, use Ember!" "Go, Electrike, use Discharge!"
Torchic spat out many flaming balls, hitting one Ninjask, and Electrike also released a blue electric flash, taking down another Ninjask!
"Chamo~" At that moment, Torchic's body was enveloped in a blue and white light of evolution. It grew two hands and its body grew taller—Combusken appeared!!
"It's..." May said in surprise, taking out her Pokédex to scan it:
Combusken...
[Combusken]
[Strength: Elite - Early Stage]
[Moves: Double Kick, Flamethrower, Feather Dance...]
Speaking of which, most of Ash's Pokémon don't evolve as soon as they reach the evolutionary level; they break through at their limit!
May excitedly commanded, "Alright, go! Combusken, Flamethrower!" "Chamo~" Combusken shot out an orange flame, defeating a Ninjask in one hit!
Now, Hansen was left with only Shedinja. "Damn it, Shedinja, use Solar Beam!"
Shedinja began to gather solar energy and shot out a green energy beam toward Ash and the others!
Just then, a light blue shield suddenly appeared, blocking the attack! "Is that Safeguard?!" Ash said, looking at the shield.
At that moment, a group of Togepi surged out of the Togepi Paradise. The Togepi floated in the air and shook their small hands in unison. Several blue lights appeared, shining on Misty's Togepi. Togepi's entire body emitted a blue and white light of evolution, its eggshell disappeared, and it grew a long neck and small wings, evolving into Togetic!
"Togepi evolved into Togetic!" Ash announced.
Togetic flew to Misty and rubbed against her. "Togetic"
"Togetic!" Misty looked at Togetic happily.
Togetic then flew in front of the other Togepi, glaring at Hansen.
"Hmph! So it evolved. But I won't let you get away with this! Shedinja, use Solar Beam!" Hansen knew his chances of success were slim, but he had to try!
But Togetic's Safeguard blocked the Solar Beam again!
"What's a guardian Pokémon going to do? You can't win just by defending!" Hansen shouted crazily.
"Then I'll be the one to defeat you! Go, my precious new partner!" Misty decided to take matters into her own hands and help Togetic!
"Roar~" It was Misty's one and only water-type Pokémon that she was previously afraid of—Gyarados!
Hansen scoffed, "You're going to use a water-type Pokémon to defeat my Shedinja?! That's hilarious!"
"That's right! Gyarados, use Flamethrower!" Misty used a surprising move!
Gyarados shot out an orange flame, which hit Shedinja. Shedinja fell to the ground, knocked out! And half of Hansen's beard and eyebrows were singed off! This infuriated Hansen!!
"Hansen, this is over!" Just then, the old king and queen arrived with guards. "Arrest him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The guards took Hansen away!
Team Rocket took advantage of the distraction and escaped!
The Togepi also flew into the air, returning to the Togepi Paradise!
"Togetic, say goodbye to everyone!" Misty said to Togetic, because she was worried about her unreliable sisters and had to leave!
Togetic flew in front of Misty and looked at the direction the Togepi were leaving, its eyes filled with concern. "Togetic Togetic"
"Is Togetic worried that the Togepi will be in danger again and wants to stay here to protect them?" Ash looked at the Togepi Paradise and smiled as he said to Togetic, "Don't worry! Since the Togepi Paradise is connected to the Mirage Kingdom, Sara will protect it!"
Sara also nodded and promised, "That's right. Even if I can't inherit the throne, I'll still protect this paradise! You can trust me, Togetic!"
Togetic's worries were put to rest, and it smiled again, since it didn't want to be separated from Misty either!
"Princess Sara, you are already the rightful heir to the throne!" Ash said with a smile, pointing at Sara's feet.
"Togepi~" Sara looked down and saw a Togepi at her feet, pulling on her. She crouched down and picked it up. "Togepi, you didn't go back to the paradise?"
"Togepi Togepi~" Togepi smiled in response!
"It seems this is the Togepi you were meant to find!" Ash said with a smile.
Togepi happily snuggled into Sara's arms!
"That's great, Princess Sara!" Everyone congratulated her.
Sara stood up and thanked them. "Thank you all!"
Early the next morning, Ash and the others got on a blimp and left the Mirage Kingdom, returning to the lake from before!
It was time for everyone to say goodbye. Misty and Togetic got on a blimp again to return to Kanto. "Well, everyone, goodbye! You'd better do your best!" "Togetic~"
"Goodbye! Say hi to your sisters for us!" "Pika" "Eevee"
"Alright! Everyone, feel free to visit Cerulean City anytime!"
To be continued...